Delegations and traffic committees
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) is the organisation responsible for the control of traffic on all roads in New South Wales under the Roads Act 1993 and the Road Transport Act 2013. In order to deal with the increased need for locally managed traffic control, TfNSW delegated certain aspects of the control of traffic on local roads to councils.
TfNSW has retained both the control of traffic on the State's classified road network and the control of traffic signals on all roads.
The main delegation to councils limits the types of prescribed traffic control devices and traffic control facilities that council may authorise, and requires councils to comply with certain conditions when doing so. One of these conditions requires councils to obtain the advice of TfNSW and NSW Police prior to proceeding with proposals at a 'Local Traffic Committee'.
Local Traffic Committees
Councils generally obtain advice by establishing a Local Traffic Committee, composed of four formal members each with one vote. These four members are a representative from council, NSW Police, TfNSW and the local State Member of Parliament or their nominee.
The Local Traffic Committee is an advisory body only, having no decision-making powers. It is, primarily, a technical review committee that is required to advise the council on traffic related matters referred to it by council.
New delegation
In 2023, a new delegation was issued to give councils an option for greater flexibility and an alternative pathway to implement certain outdoor dining works, road safety improvements, and improvements for pedestrians.